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Show:		2.0
Picture:		5.0
Sound:		5.0
Extras:		4.0
Score:		3.0

Director(s):	Tyler Perry
Writer(s):	Tyler Perry, Kellie Griffin, Steve Coulter, Christopher J. Moore
Starring:	LaVan Davis • Lance Gross • Cassi Davis • Allen Payne • Larramie Doc Shaw • China Anne McClain • Demetria McKinney
Genre:	Comedy • Television
Website:	http://www.tbs.com/shows/houseofpayne/
Release Date:	June 16, 2009
Rated:	NR

List Price:	DVD - $18.99
Amazon:

With each of Tyler Perry’s films scoring respectable box office earnings on their opening weekends, the argument that he’s filling a niche market long ignored by Hollywood merits closer consideration. Has Hollywood been ignoring the African-American viewer? The notion does carry some weight. Compared to all the films that skew primarily Caucasian in casting and targeted demographic, films made by Hollywood closely resembling Perry’s in any given year can generally be counted on one hand. Obviously this doesn’t mean that the average film can’t be enjoyed by people of all races, creeds and upbringings – but there are undeniable variations in family customs between say an Anglo Saxon Catholic couple and an African-American Baptist couple. Both groups may be able to relate to Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts blushing on the screen, but there will be an inevitable gap in how each pair will relate to what they see on screen. In short – yes, Hollywood has been neglecting the African-American audience more often than not. But to say that Tyler Perry is filling that gap would be a blatant insult as the man’s ability to direct and write would say horrible things about the current state of African-American film culture.

Tyler Perry’s House of Payne has promise, it really, really does. The cast is likeable enough even when their acting causes the comic moments on screen to ring hollow (or not at all). The show’s downfall stems from two unfortunately poor sources: directing and writing. The writing isn’t all bad. Most of the time you can see exactly what the writers wanted to do, you can hear the dialogue and figure out how the joke was meant to go, but it just never made it to the screen. Either the actors bungled the line, the writers overcomplicated the delivery of the punchline, or director Tyler Perry sapped all the comedy away with poor timing. Usually it’s the latter.

The situations presented in House of Payne fall within the traditional sitcom tropes; they’ve been done before by countless sitcoms prior but freshen them ever so slightly with the zest added by their unique blend of characters. And that’s okay. Every sitcom knows it’s following in the footsteps of those who came before – that’s not the problem. Issues only arise when the jokes that have seen similar usage before House of Payne fail to materialize with the pay-off that any viewer of a sitcom prior to House of Payne knows to be possible. It’s the same jokes, but Perry’s direction, the cast’s less than stellar acting and the slight ineptitude in writing result in half-baked jokes that never rise to the occasion.

The comedy may not have the right kick, but the dramatic elements certainly pull their own weight. House of Payne covers topics that few sitcoms before it dared to touch. The basic premise stems from a separation of two parents C.J. (Allen Payne) and Janine (Demetria McKinney) who move into the house of C.J.’s uncle Curtis (LaVan Davis) and Ella (Cassi Davis). Also living with them are C.J. and Janine’s children Malik (Larramie Doc Shaw) and Jazmine (China Ann McClain) and the slacker Calvin (Lance Gross). Situations arise, comedy ensues (rarely if ever).

With our setup out of the way, let’s acknowledge some shows with predominantly African-American casts that brought the funny each time and every time. The Bernie Mac Show, starring Bernie Mac (go figure), rocked the comedic socks off the sitcoms competing against it. Everybody Hates Chris, based on the comedic stylings of Chris Rock, features the trials and tribulations of a kid growing up in Brooklyn where he seems to get into all sorts of funny trouble. The Cosby Show, again based on the comedy routines of another lovable patron of the yuk, Bill Cosby, may be the quintessential example of how a cast can feature a primarily African-American cast and not sacrifice everything in the process. Sanford & Son? Good Times? Family Matters? They didn’t have to resort to overweight, racial stereotypes (most of them at least) to get a laugh. They had funny writing and casts.

Tyler Perry may have assembled a show sharply aimed at a neglected niche, but he’s not giving the niche the credit it deserves. They’ve seen better than House of Payne, why should they have to settle for such subpar programming? Tyler Perry, get off your high-horse, hire some established directors for your sitcom and let the show out of your hands. You’re not quite the talented dynamo you think yourself to be.

DVD Bonus Features

There’s not much to be found on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne: Volume Four in the way of extras. There’s a very brief piece wherein Allen Payne talks about his character C.J. in a profile piece and another wherein in LaVan Davis gives us a tour of the set in semi-character as Curtis. There’s a blooper reel but, like the show, it’s devoid of laughter.